Extrusion device



L. E. GAENZLE EXTRUSION DEVICE Feb. 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1947 m m m w.

Feb. 28, 1950 L. E. GAEIQZLE 2,498,670

EXTRUSION DEVICE Filed June 28, 1947 s Sheefs-Sheet 2 INVENTOI Q. my; Z. Gab-7Q 1 Patented Feb. 28, 1950 EXTRUSION DEVICE Luther E. Gaenzle, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 28, 1947, Serial No. 757,808

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an extrusion device and, more particularly, to a device for extruding rods of cork composition or similar material.

In the manufacture of cork composition rods by the extrusion process, it has been common practice to employ a double action extrusion apparatus having two banks of extrusion dies. These banks of dies are arnanged in a horizontal plane, the one being disposed at an angle of 180 with respect to the other. A mixture of cork and binder is forced through these dies by means of suitable plungers attached to a crosshead. This crosshead is usually in the form of an I-beam located in the center of the machine between the two banks of extrusion dies and on the same horizontal plane as the extrusion dies with its longitudinal horizontal axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the plungers. Reciprocating motion is imparted to this crosshead by means of a hydraulic cylinder or other power-applying means located below the crosshead and attached thereto by suitable linkage. As the crosshead is moved to one side, the plungers attached to that side are forced into the extrusion tubes causing the cork and binder disposed therein to be compressed in the tubes and extruded therefrom in the form of rods of cork composition. During this operation, the plungers operating in the dies on the other side of the machine are withdrawn to a position back of the point at which the cork and binder is fed into the extrusion die. The operation is then reversed, the crosshead moving to the other side of the machine, and the plungers attached to that side compress the composition in the extrusion dies while the plungers are withdrawn to permit recharging of the tubes on the first side of the machine.

While machines of this type have been in use for several years, they have several disadvantages which have never been overcome until the development of the present invention. One of the chief sources of trouble in the old-type apparatus is'the power-applying means which is positioned below the crosshead. This power-applying means operates in a plane parallel to the plane of the direction of travel of the crosshead and plun'gers but is on a plane substantially below the crosshead. Since the power-applying means is not on the center line of the plungers, it causes unequal stresses at the point where the cork load enters the extrusion tubes. These unequal stresses cause the plungers to score the walls of the extrusion tubes necessitating frequent replacement of the extrusion tubes.-

The disadvantages inherent in the extrusion machine above described have been overcome by altering the method of operation of the powerapplying means and also by placing the powerapplying means on the same horizontal plane as sitioned in the same horizontal plane as the extrusion tubes and plunger-s.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an extrusion machine which is capable of easy assembly and disassembly for purposes of ,performing maintenance work, etc.

In order that my invention may be more readily understood, it will be described in connection with the attached drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an extrusion machine, with parts removed, showing the relative position of the cylinder and extrusion tubes;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of an extrusion machine, partially in section;

Figure 3 is a, longitudinal cross-sectional view of the hydraulic cylinder showing the piston partially in cross section and partially in elevation; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the ring gasket disposed between the cylinder wall and the removable cylinder insert.

' Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a table 2 having a platform 3 to which are securedby means of studs 4 two bronze bearing bars 5. Positioned above the table 2 and centered thereover is a crosshead 6 secured by means of studs 1 to slides 8 and held in proper alignment on the bearing bars 5 by means of guides 9 secured by studs ID to platform 3. The slides 9 are connected together by cross arms 9'. Positioned centrally in the crosshead 6 is a cylinder II. On either side of the cylinder I I and attached to the crosscrosshead in this manner is to provide two secwhich in turn are secured by means of studs l1" to the crosshead 6.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a cross.

section of the cylinder ll illustrating a fixed piston i8. The piston l8 and its shaft 2| are forged as an integral unit. This piston i8 is heldv in sta--. tionary position by uprightbrackets l9 securedto the platform 3. A sleeve which is thread edly secured to the shaft 21 of the piston l8 fits into a recess in the brackets l9.- A retainer 22* fits over the flange 20 and prevents the entire 20 to the cylinder than the arrangement used previpiston assembly from turning in the cylinder. In addition to-the threads-in the piston shaft 2!, the. flange 20 is heldsecurely in placeby a jamb nut 23, which is also threadedly secured to the shaft 2!. A lock washer 24 disposed between the jamb nut.23 and. the flange 20 prevents the jamb nut 23from turning. This assembly holds .the piston rigidly in position between the brackets I9. 7

The cylinder I I is. held in position in the crosshead 6 by means of a flange 25 on one side of the cylinder abuttingagainst a shoulder. 25 .on the crosshead 5." On the other side of the cylinder, a locking ring 21 is. threadedly. secured to the cylinder H and abuts against. the shoulder 26, thus clamping the cylinder firmly between the two shoulders 26 .of the crosshead B. A bronze cylinder liner 28 is provided which is press-fitted into the cylinder II... This cylinder liner 28 is provided with grooves 29 on its two end edges 30. These scored edges 3D,.fit into a recess St in the cylinder heads. The recess 3| has a scored bottom portion, the scoring ofv which registers with the scoring on the endof the cylinder liner. A ring gasket 32- is provided between the cylinder liner and the cylinder heads to prevent leakage of hydraulic fluid in this area. This structure is shown in Figure 4. Itis highly important that leakage of fiuidin this area be prevented for the reason that if a. small amount of fluid leaks around the end of the liner, thepressurev of the fluid on the outside of the liner will have a crushing effect on the liner and cause the piston to bind to the liner.v The cylinder liner 28-issecurely held inthe cylinder by being 'abutted against the fixed cylinderhead- 33. The-removable head 34 is then put into place, the cylinder edge flttingintotherecess 3i therein, and the removable. headis then secured to the cylinder by means of studs.35.-.

The piston shaft. 2|v passes through openings is secured by meansofstuds 40 to the cylinder heads 33 and 3d.

The piston i815 provided with piston rings M which fit into suitable grooves inthe piston.

Hydraulic fluid from asuitable source, not shown, is forced in. through the passage 42. in. piston shaft 2! into the central area of the-piston andv from this central area, it passes out through.

radial passages43 intothe cylinder chamber 44.

In making hydraulicicylinders of this type in.-

the .pastit has been customarytodrill thepis-.

4 ton shaft and have the hydraulic fluid line enter the piston shaft at an angle of 90 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In a structure of this type, the outlets for the hydraulic 5 fluid to pass from the shaft to the cylinder chamber were placed in the'piston shaft directly in front of the piston which provided a weakened area in the piston shaft causing considerable breakage.

10 This has been overcome by connecting the hydraulic line onto the end of the piston shaft and having the hydraulic passage in the piston running longitudinally thereof into the piston body- This structure-does not create any weak- 5 .ened area as was present in previous structures.

In 'an'arran'gement of hydraulic fluid passages, such as that disclosed here, the force of the fluid entering the cylinder chamber is directed against the cylinder head, giving a more positive action ously. inwhich the hydraulic fluid was forced out from the piston shaft in-to the-cylinder chamber at right angles to thedirectionof travel of the cylinder.

g5 Intheoperation of; thisdevice, hydraulic fluid" is forced through the passage 42 in the piston shaft 21-. by any suitable means, not shown. The fiuidforced through theshaft enters the piston and is forced-through the radial passages 43 into 30 the cylinder chamber 44. Inasmuch as the pis- "fixed to the crosshead' Efcarries the crosshead with'it which in turn forces the plungers on that side of the: crosshead into. the extrusion tubes thereby'compressingacharge of cork and bindenin the tube :positioned-on'that side of the machine. When the-cylihder-hastravelled as far: as possible-in this direction, the travel of hydraulic-fluid is reversed'and the fluid is forced into the piston through the passage 32 in the shaft onthe other side of the piston. This forces 45 the cylinder in the opposite direction which in turn forces the-hydraulic fluid out of the previously filled cylinder chamber through the channels 43in the piston-and the passage'42 to the source of hydraulic fluid-r The cylinder assembly described above is particularly adapted for disassembly for purposes of.

maintenance by removing the retainer 22 .and turning the jamb nut 23 to permit the flange 20 5 to be'moved forward on the piston shaft a distance sufficient to clear the recessinthe brackets l0. When the piston hasbeeniso disengaged from the brackets M1,. the crosshead .with the cylinder assembly thereinv can be removed from ,the -machine.' Aft'erfithe .crosshea d-and cylinderasseinbly have been so removed, the piston may be. removed fromthe cylinder byremoving studs 35 which..permit. the removable cylinder head 34 to be taken 011- Removal-of the head 34 permits easy access tothe cylinder'liner 28 forpurposes of removal andreplacement. In theevent it is desired to remove the entire cylinder fromthe crosshead, this can be readily accomplishedby removing the locking ring 27 which hasan-inside diameter greater than the outside diametervof the removablecylinder head 34 and can be readily removed rthereover. After thislocki-ng. nut has been removed, the entire cylinder assemblycan-be removed from the cross- 'lfiizheadsliding it laterally outwardlyfrom the side of the crosshead, opposite the side from which the locking nut has been removed.

It will be readily observed from the above disclosure that I have provided a device which will apply the pressure to the extrusion tubes in a true horizontal direction, thus overcoming the tendency to produce unequal stresses at the point where the work load enters the extrusion tubes. It will also be observed that I have provided a device which can be easily and quickly disassembled for maintenance purposes.

While the above disclosure is directed to a hydraulic cylinder, it will be understood that other power-applying means may be used in carrying out this invention. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, the cylinder is located in the crosshead; however, it may be located on either side of the crosshead so long as the center line of the cylinder is on the center line of the extrusion plungers.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my device, it will be understood that the same is not so limited, but may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for forming articles by extrusion, the combination of a series of extrusion tubes arranged on a horizontal plane on both sides of the machine, plungers adapted to compress material disposed in said extrusion tubes, said plungers being attached to a crosshead disposed along the horizontal central axis of the machine between said series of tubes, and a hydraulic cylinder positioned in the center of said crosshead, the center line of the cylinder being on the same horizontal plane as the center line of the extrusion plungers.

2. In an apparatus for forming articles by extrusion, the combination of a series of extrusion tubes on a horizontal plane on both sides of the machine, plungers adapted to compress material disposed in said extrusion tubes, said plungers being-secured to a cross head disposed along the horizontal central axis of the machine between said series of tubes, said crosshead comprising two longitudinal sections joined by a continuous horizontal weld to form a composite unit, and a cylinder positioned in the center of said crosshead, the center line of the cylinder being on or uh) the same horizontal plane as the center line of the extrusion plungers.

3. In an apparatus for forming articles by ex- I trusion, the combination of a series of extrusion tral axis of the machine between said series of tubes, a cylinder positioned in the center of said crosshead and rigidly secured thereto, the center line of said cylinder being on the same horizontal plane as the center line of the extrusion plungers, and means for imparting reciprocatory motion to the cylinder to move the crosshead and plungers.

4. In an apparatus for forming articles by extrusion, the combination of a series of extrusion tubes arranged on both sides of a machine, plungers adapted to compress material disposed in the extrusion tubes, said plungers being secured to a crosshead disposed along the horizontal central axis of the machine between said series of tubes, and a cylinder and piston arrangement having its center line on the same horizontal plane as the center line of the plungers attached to said crosshead and capable of imparting reciprocatory motion to said crosshead.

5. In an apparatus for forming articles by extrusion, the combination of a series of extrusion tubes arranged on both sides of a machine, plungers adapted to compress material disposed in the extrusion tubes, said plungers being secured to a crosshead disposed along the horizontal central axis of the machine between said series of tubes, and means for imparting reciprocatory motion to said crosshead, said reciprocatory means being disposed on the same horizontal plane as the center line of the plungers.

6. In a double action extrusion machine, the combination of two series of extrusion tubes arranged on a horizontal plane on both sides of LUTHER E. GAENZLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,453,617 Bond May 1, 1923 2,366,417 Macmllin Jan. 2, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 508,556 Great Britain June 30, 1939 

